Two Worlds of Seduction: Orchids and Mata Hari (Online Special Program)

Amanda Ohlke, Director of Adult Education, International Spy Museum and George Guenthner, USBG Gardener (Advanced)
Orchids are commonly associated with sensuality and beauty, seen to have a dark, luxurious charm. The U.S. Botanic Garden has a large collection of these fascinating plants. In this collaboration with the International Spy Museum, explore Mata Hari, a figure who also embodies sensuality, beauty, and dark charm. Join Amanda and George to discuss the complex interplay of attraction and deception in both the human and natural worlds.

This program is offered in collaboration with the International Spy Museum. It is connected to our 2026 joint orchid show “More Than a Flower: The Connective Power of Orchids” in collaboration with Smithsonian Gardens and the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC).

Amanda Ohlke

Director of Adult Education

International Spy Museum

Amanda Ohlke is Director of Adult Education at the International Spy Museum. As a key member of the Spy Museum creative team since 2004, she has worked on a wide variety of exhibitions and programs on topics ranging from unexpected spies to sabotage to current...(read more)

George Guenther

Gardener (Advanced)

U.S. Botanic Garden

George is a Gardener (Advanced) at the U.S. Botanic Garden (USBG), where his plant care includes the USBG orchid collection. He holds a degree in Biology with a focus in Ecology and Conservation and a master’s in applied plant sciences from the University of M...(read more)